No I don’t use the pinky on all the counter-base rows by default. Generally in the same column I stretch the 4th finger. It’s only when the stretching goes too far I will use my little finger. I also use the little finger for well rehearsed manoeuvres such as sales and runs. The little finger really...

A practical problem for your continental Europe options will be your language skills. In france 🇫🇷 and italy 🇮🇹 you’ll have to speak the language. In the Netherlands 🇳🇱 or or belgium 🇧🇪 you may get by with English but the three teachers I’ve had over the years couldn’t do it. Germany 🇩🇪 will be no b...

Play what you think sounds best. This type of music is for playing and I’m sure repeating certain parts (or not) will not detract from the overall performance if it is fit for purpose. I stopped agonising over these things years ago.

I've literally spent months on these 2 songs. You really must move on to some new music. I predict that in a few months you’ll lose interest and accordion will be history for you. Start some new songs and come back to these pieces in a few months. You’ll be surprised how easily you pick them up aga...

It could well be that most accordionist have the advantage of wisdom (aka advancing years) and want to hide the fact that they are a bit thin on top. The best “scientific” measure would be to normalise the score by age. Find X pictures, each picture with a hat scores 100 points divided by the estima...

You can do the B bass note over Am chord.
Doesn’t appear to be written like that but it’s a possibility in this piece.
The Am chord is static and the bass cycles over A, B, D, A if I remember correctly.

I have the Zoom H4n and you can use its USB connection as a sound card straight into a piece of recording software. It works really well. I use disposable batteries but rechargeable work as well. The microphone has two arrangements and you can plug in a replacement if you have one. Sent from my iPad...